Police are monitoring internet for threats against the Pope during British visit
Isn’t this a sad indictment.
British police have said they are monitoring the internet for threats against the Pope and attempts to disrupt the papal visit in September.
Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes, who is co-ordinating the national police effort for the papal visit, said police were monitoring extremist websites and other media that appear to be targeting the Pope.
He was reacting to reports that an Islamist website has urged Birmingham Muslims to disrupt the papal Mass at Cofton Park.
Chief Constable Hughes said: “We are aware of this website and are monitoring it closely, as indeed we are monitoring all such websites and media.
“Although we are unable to discuss the content of individual websites, we will of course ensure that such measures are taken as to protect the Pope and all those who are coming to see him.”
Questions about the Pope’s safety arose last week after a post on the Leicester-based website suggested that Muslims in Birmingham use the opportunity of the papal Mass to protest against the Pope.
The website, called the Islamic Standard, urged Muslims to “tell the Pope just what they think of him after his insults against the Prophet Muhammad”.
It also said the Birmingham event was not only a chance to “challenge these evil words of this evil Pope” but that it was also a chance to “call people away from the shirk [idolatry] of worshipping the dead like the Catholics do, calling out to them for help and intercession”.
On a more positive note at least that wretched and pointless e-petition is finally closed:
A May response from the U.K. government to an electronic petition asking it to “disassociate” itself from the views of Pope Benedict XVI has resurfaced in the news. The petition’s author argued it was prematurely closed to help the Pope save face, but evidence shows his petition was halted like all the others.
Under the Gordon Brown government, the official website of the British prime minister, www.number10.gov.uk, allowed “e-petitions” to be submitted to give citizens a voice on an official platform. Petitions with over 500 signatures were promised responses.
Among the petitions lodged before the Brown administration lost the elections this past May was one one imploring the prime minister “to disassociate the British government from the Pope’s intolerant views ahead of the Papal visit to Britain in September 2010.”
The petition had garnered more than 12,000 signatures before it was blocked on April 6, like all other petitions from the previous government, with the entry of David Cameron’s newly-elected government.
A May 11th statement from Cameron’s cabinet in response to the petition confirmed the Pope’s trip as a state visit, by invitation of the Queen, for Sept. 16-19.
Tags: Church Life, Internet & Technology
August 28th, 2010 at 11:18 am
It’s true that all petitions to number 10 were halted; the process was replaced by yourfreedom and spendingchallenge. Spendingchallenge has now been closed, suggestions culled and edited, and re-opened for voting only.
A theme of suggestions was that papal visits were not a core public service in the sense of housing benefit or daycentres for people with dementia. They are cut. The pope’s visit continues. No statement has been made in response, although a civil servant’s opinion leaked to the press is that it it “too embarassing” to un-invite the pope, and so logically less embarassing to cut dementia daycentres and housing benefit.
August 28th, 2010 at 11:41 am
The Catholic Church has been involved in caring for people for years . I am an Australian , and I love the British people , all of us are thrilled that you have the opportunity to welcome Pope Benedict .I have never known the British people not to be welcoming , courteous people . there is enough hate in the World . Pope Benedict brings a message of peace , dont let hate overtake any of this , yes money will need to be spent but it is not going to stop the generosity of Catholics in Britain from still contributing to care for the less fortunate . Britain is a great country , your bravery and persistence is unique , so please welcome a man , who humbly wants to honour yor Faith , tradition Multiculturalism and your leadership . Britain you are too good to hate